Volkswagen ID. Buzz
Volkswagen I.D. Buzz | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Volkswagen |
Also called | VW electric microbus |
Production | 2022–, Volkswagen Chattanooga Assembly Plant[1] |
Designer | Einar Castillo |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 3 and 4 door minivan |
Platform | Volkswagen Group MEB platform[2] |
Powertrain | |
Battery | 111 kWh[3] |
Electric range | 435–600 km (270–373 mi)[4] |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 3,300 mm (130 in)[2][5] |
Length | 4,942 mm (195 in)[2][5] |
Width | 1,976 mm (78 in)[2][5] |
Height | 1,963 mm (77 in)[2][5] |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Volkswagen BUDD-e |
The Volkswagen I.D. Buzz (stylized in all-caps as I.D. BUZZ or ID. BUZZ[5] and also known as the VW Electric Microbus)[6] is an electric minivan based on the electric MEB platform. It is the second concept vehicle to be shown from the I.D. series of MEB-based electric vehicles.
Design
Concept car descriptions in 2017 indicated the electric microbus could be produced in two versions: a high-end 275 kW (369 hp) all-wheel-drive version with one motor each on the front and rear axles and an 111 kilowatt-hours (400 MJ) battery pack,[5] and a less-expensive 200 kW (268 hp) rear-wheel-drive version with an 83 kWh (300 MJ) battery pack.[3]
According to the chief executive of VW Autonomy, Alex Hitzinger, the I.D. Buzz minivan is the basis of Volkswagen's self-driving automobile,[7] and could be used for MOIA,[clarification needed] a vehicle for hire company competing with Uber.[8] MOIA launched in April 2019, serving Hamburg, Germany, after a 2018 trial with a small fleet of battery electric Multivan T6 vehicles.[9] The autonomous features are part of the "I.D. Pilot" mode, which is anticipated to become available in 2025.[5]
Cargo variant
The I.D. Buzz Cargo (stylized as the ID. BUZZ CARGO) debuted at the 2018 IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hannover[10] as a support vehicle for the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak Hillclimb racer. The Cargo has a maximum estimated cargo capacity of 1,760 lb (800 kg) and uses the simplified rear-drive powertrain.[11]
The Cargo prototype was shown in October 2019 at Nike stores in Santa Monica, California; Chicago; and New York City with retro livery branded "Blue Ribbon Sports", the predecessor company to athletic apparel manufacturer Nike, Inc.[12]
History
The concept vehicle was first shown as a prototype at the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit,[13] then shown again at Geneva in March.[14] Members of the automotive press were invited to drive the concept during Monterey Car Week later that year, in August,[1] where it was also announced that a production vehicle based on this prototype will be launched in 2022.[15]
It will be one of nine new Volkswagen brand models based on the MEB platform.[3][6][16] A cargo van variant is also planned for production,[7] to launch in Europe alongside the passenger version in 2022.[10]
Rollout
In December 2019, Volkswagen announced it had partnered with the Qatar Investment Authority to deploy a fleet of 35 ID. BUZZ AD autonomous vehicles based on the I.D. Buzz to serve semi-fixed routes in Doha by 2022.[17]
See also
- Electric car use by country
- Volkswagen Microbus Concept
- Volkswagen I.D. series
- Volkswagen I.D.
- Volkswagen I.D. Crozz
References
- ^ a b Stevens, Tim (19 August 2017). "VW's adorable I.D. Buzz hits dealerships in 2022, but we drove it, today". Roadshow. CNET.com. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ^ a b c d e "2017 Volkswagen I.D. BUZZ Concept". ConceptCarz.com. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ^ a b c Lambert, Fred (2017-08-17). "VW announces that it is bringing its all-electric microbus to production in 2022". Electrek. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
- ^ "Volkswagen Confirms Electric I.D. Buzz Production". Autotrader.com. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g "NAIAS 2017 in Detroit: Volkswagen presents the ID. BUZZ" (Press release). Volkswagen Group Newsroom. January 9, 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ a b Perkins, Chris (19 August 2017). "Confirmed! Electric VW Microbus Coming". Road & Track. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
- ^ a b Alex Hitzinger. "Interview: VW's hip, all-electric ID Buzz van is a platform for its self-driving efforts". electrek (Interview). Interviewed by Bradley Berman. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ "VW I.D. Buzz Microbus confirmed for 2022 release". Auto Express. August 20, 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ "Mobile, Modern, MOIA: In Hamburg, the future of mobility begins this Monday". Volkswagen AG. April 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ a b Kautonen, Antti (September 20, 2018). "VW I.D. Buzz Cargo: EV microbus gets a commercial version". Autoblog. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ "Volkswagen ID. BUZZ CARGO: The electric van that could deliver the future" (Press release). Volkswagen of America Newsroom. November 29, 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ "Nike offers pop-up experiences across America starring the Volkswagen ID. BUZZ CARGO" (Press release). Volkswagen of America Newsroom. October 15, 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ Goodwin, Antuan (January 8, 2017). "Volkswagen ID Buzz concept is an electric microbus for the autonomous future". Road/Show. C|Net. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ Krok, Andrew (March 3, 2017). "Volkswagen ID Buzz concept continues new-age nostalgia tour in Geneva". Road/Show. C|Net. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ "The I.D. BUZZ goes into production". Volkswagen AG. September 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ "Dit zijn de vijf elektrische VW's!" [These are the five electric VWs!]. Groen7. June 21, 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ^ "'Project Qatar Mobility': Self-driving shuttles set to take Doha's local public transport to the next level in 2022" (Press release). Volkswagen Group Newsroom. December 14, 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2020.